‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ is the current government’s roadmap to making India a completely developed nation by 2047.The government’s vision for Viksit Bharat as started by the finance minister in his budget speech is that of “Prosperous Bharat in harmony with nature, with modern infrastructure, and providing opportunities for all citizens and all regions to reach their potential”.  Viksit Bharat also requires building national character, including imbibing the habit of swatch Bharat, and a mind-set which respects India’s civilizational ethos, and makes public and private decisions in the country’s interest.

Vikisit Bharat @2047 aims to empower citizens and foster sustainable development, focusing on equitable growth, innovative solutions and inclusive policies. Through a commitment to enhancing education, healthcare, infrastructure and environmental conservation, it strives to build a prosperous and resilient nation where every individual can thrive. By prioritizing digital transformation, rural development, and social justice, it aspires to create a vibrant and inclusive society that harnesses the potential of all its members for collective progress.

To make India a superpower on the economic front, Viksit Bharat @2047envisages sustainable economic growth through various initiatives such as.

1. Ensure 100 percent literacy rate across the nation.
2. Provide quality healthcare services accessible to every citizen.
3. Generate a substantial portion of energy from renewable sources to reduce pollution.
4. Revolutionize agriculture for higher yields and improved livelihoods of farmers.
5. Build state-of-the-art infrastructure to support economic growth and connectivity.

The vision of Viksit Bharat is that of prosperous Bharat in harmony with modern infrastructure and nature and giving opportunities for all regions to reach their potential. PM Modi has stated that the core objective of the Viksit Bharat vision is to foster inclusive economic participation among all citizens.

Vision India@2047 is a project initiated by the NITI Aayog, the apex policy think tank of India, to create a blueprint for India’s development in the next 25 years. The project aims to make India a global leader in innovation and technology, a model of human development and social welfare, and a champion of environmental sustainability.

The Finance Minister, in her Budget 2024 speech, stated that many development and growth-enabling reforms areneeded in the states to realize Viksit Bharat’s vision. Thus, a provision of 1.5 lakh crore as a long-term interest-free loan is proposed to the state governments to support their resource allocation for infrastructural developments. Helping MSMEsgrow and compete will also be a part of the Viksit Bharat roadmap.

On 11 December 2023, the PM launched ‘Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth’ via video conferencing. At the launch, he highlighted the role of educational institutions in an individual’s personality development and stated that a nation becomes developed only when there is development of its people. He also underlined the need to channel the energy of every university’s students are youth towards achieving the commongoal of Viksit Bharat.

The Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Voice of Youth was launched to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat, which demands a firm belief in India’s destiny, unwavering dedication and a profound recognition of the people’s vast potential capabilities and talent, particularly the youth.

The PM also extended an invitation to the youth to engage in the transformative agenda through the youth movement known as ‘Ideas from Youth for Viksit Bharat @2047’. He urged everyone to go beyond their limits and contribute their ideas to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Education: Enhancing educational infrastructure, increasing school enrollment, and improving the quality of education.

Healthcare: ensuring accessible and quality healthcare services for all citizens.

Technology: Embracing and innovating technology for the nation’s progress.

Infrastructure: Developing robust infrastructure including transportation, communication, and urban facilities.

Agriculture: Modernizing farming techniques and supporting farmers for increased productivity.

Environment: Implementing sustainable practices and preserving natural resources for a cleaner and healthier environment.

How should achieve vision for Viksit Bharat

Viksit Bharat 2047 is the vision to transform India into a developed nation by 2047, the 100^th year of independence. This vision encompasses various facets of development, such as economic growth, environmental sustainability, social progress and good governance to make India a developed nation by 2047. Below provided is what the different aspects of Viksit Bharat should look like in 2047:

Economic Growth: A Viksit Bharat should have a resilient and strong economy that can provide opportunities and a high standard of living for all citizens. The economy should be able to cope with the challenges of the 21^st century based on entrepreneurship, innovation and competitiveness.The vision aims to elevate India to the status of the world’s third-largest economy and strive for a $30 trillion economy by 2047.The GDP is projected to grow at an average rate of 6.7 percent until 2047.

This refers to the shift of resources from low low-productivity sectors (such as agriculture sector) to high productivity sector (such as manufacturing and services). This can boost economic growth, create jobs and reduce poverty.               

Increasing competitiveness: This entails enhancing the efficiency and innovation of firms, improving the quality and diversity of products and services, and expanding the domestic and international markets. This can foster economic dynamism, increase export, and attract investment.

Environmental Sustainability:  A Viksit Bharat should have a clean and green environment to preserve India’s biodiversity and natural resources. The environment should be able to mitigate the impacts of climate change based on restoration, conservation and resilience. This implies to preserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change impact through restoration and conservation efforts.

Improving financial and Social Inclusion: A Viksit Bharat should have an inclusive and harmonious society that ensures the dignity and well-being of all its citizens. Society should be able to celebrate and respect India’s cultural heritage based on justice, equality and diversity.

This implies expanding the access the affordability of financial services and social welfare schemes for the poor and marginalized groups. This can improve their income, savings and consumption, as well as their health, education and empowerment.

Governance reforms: This involves strengthening the institutions and processes of governance, such as the rule of law, accountability, transparency, and participation. This can improve the delivery of public goods and services and reduce corruption and enhance trust and legitimacy. Filling vacant government positions at the national and state levels, including judiciary, police, medical, military and paramilitary is a key enabler.

A Viksit Bharat should have agile governance with sound policies and accountability. A good governance system is where there is provision to collect credible data, analyze areas for correction and act swiftly to improve the country based on teamwork, reflection, empathy and consultation.

Challenges

High Unemployment:Despite rapid growth, unemployment remains a serious issue, worsened by the pandemic. The unemployment rate in India rose to 8.1 percent in April 2024, from 7.4 percent in March 2024, according to CMIEs consumer Pyramid Household Survey.

Poor Infrastructure: India lacks adequate infrastructure like roads, railways, ports, power, water and sanitation, hampering economic development.

Balance of Payments Deterioration: India runs a persistent current account deficit, with imports exceeding exports.

Military Challenges: Despite conflicts with Pakistan and China, India has reasonably managed border security. However, the rapid rise China poses economic and military challenges. Almost all of India’s neighbors are moving closer to china, necessitating better policy and diplomacy to secure India’s interests and ensure regional stability.

India dependence on foreign arms imports, despite efforts to promote self-reliance through initiatives like ‘Make in India,’ highlights the need for robust domestic defense industry.

At last in conclusion we can say that, ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ is the current government’s roadmap to making India a completely developed nation by 2047; 100 years after independence. With the rapid development in major sectors of the economy, experts have predicted this mission will be accomplished within its time limit. By adopting a holistic approach that values happiness and well-being alongside economic growth, India can aspire to achieve a more sustainable and fulfilling development trajectory.

Thus we can say that the government strategized its planning by consulting its ministers, state governments, academic institutions, private organizations and ordinary people to come up with innovative and sustained ideas for growth and development of country.

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